The Washington Township High School gave Santa’s workshop a run for its money last Thursday at the annual “Township Toys 24 at the Core” toy drive. Surrounded by sleeping bags, folding chairs, pizza and presents, 23 members of the junior and senior class councils stayed up around the clock, from 1:30 p.m. on Dec. 9 to 1:30 p.m. on Dec. 10, to collect more than 2,000 new toys and $1,600 in monetary donations for children in need.

The students, along with advisors Bob Gorski, Mike Hudock and Carol Costello, welcomed donations at all hours of the night in the festively decorated high school core. They watched movies, snacked, sang Christmas carols and gathered around an outside fire pit to stay awake. Last year, the class councils collected more than 5,000 toys and raised more than $3,000 to purchase gift cards.

And she’s not alone. Senior Bobby Sheridan went so far as to don a Santa costume for the second year in a row and pose for pictures — with the teens as well as the little kids.

“It’s so cool because [the children] really still believe in Santa,” he said, adding that while he enjoyed himself, sometimes the suit did get a bit toasty. “[The costume] is so hot, but if it makes the kids happy, it’s okay.”

His mom, Stacey Sheridan, came out to support the event and see her son dressed up as jolly ol’ Saint Nick.

“It’s great to see the kids involved,” she said.

Calling it one of his “fondest moments of high school,” Bobby said it also helps the council to get to know each other better — a statement Costello echoed.

“It makes the juniors and seniors bond as one,” Costello, a special education teacher at the high school, said. “They learn a lot.”

As the toys quickly piled up around Santa’s seat, Costello said that it’s when every last board game and basketball are in one place that the real impact of their work sets in.

“We’re in the business of kids. We think everybody here should have a toy at Christmas,” Costello said. “The best is seeing all the toys together, all in one room. It’s like ‘We did this?’ It’s surreal.”

The overwhelming donations came from all corners of the township, including faculty members like Denise Skow, who teaches English and serves as the high school’s librarian.

“Our kids have a culture of giving. They’re always collecting something in this school,” Skow said after dropping off a bag of toys. “The kids involved have so much spirit, it lifts us up.”

The event even brought back class council alumni who have fond memories of the annual event.

“I love it and I miss it. This is big,” said Joe Bittmann, who graduated from the high school last year.

He was thrilled to see Costello, who he said was the backbone of the event.

While Costello was busy keeping things running smoothly, she did take a few moments to welcome Mayor Barbara Wallace, who stopped by on Thursday night.

“I’m proud to be here, and I’m proud of my babies,” Wallace said. She was invited to check out the festivities by Junior Brian Sommermann, and he was excited to see her come out and support the toy drive.

“I wanted to get as many people involved as possible,” Sommermann said. “I like to help out the needy families and let everyone have a good Christmas.”